Changes of Season

Praise be to the Name of God for ever and ever;
Wisdom and Power are His.

He changes times and seasons;

He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and Light dwells with Him.




In the business of life time seems to fly by. Now here I am a married lady of just over seven weeks. The Season has indeed changed and 'suddenlies' with acceleration of just about everything to do with my life are things I have come to experience.



The Lord blessed us with His Presence on our Wedding Day . At this time of our lives we were very determined to make sure that as we stood before the Throne that day our marriage was before God as we pledged our lives to Jesus and to one another.

Now here we are living in British Columbia with Pop and Zoe....a very cute wedding puppy as well.





For all of us this exciting New Season has begun. The journey to this point has been very interesting, moving quickly with each victory the Lord has given us.

As for me....this is a very different place from anywhere the Lord has led . We are happy.....there are challenges and victories, there are struggles. This means I must seek strategy from the Throne room for specific times and issues.

So, as we grow along together I hope to be able to share my journey, my thoughts, my joys and my ponderings in this very new season of walking with Jesus.

There are mountains I can see just by looking out my windows, beauty all around. Once more this reminds me :

Song of Sol. 2:14. My dove in the cleft of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice;

And so , the sound of my voice You will surely recognize Lord, whether it be a song or a sigh....or a whisper in the night....You are here and we rejoice in Your Nearness.

Story of the Cape

Last year I met an acquaintance from my youth. It's a good story....his father had been friends with my mother when they were teenagers growing up . Later, when my mother met and married my father, this friend and his family lived just up the street and around the corner. Nice story .

This person and his dad have now come into my life. This time in an amazing way and we are going to be married next month. Very nice story.

The thing that touched my heart early in our communication were the stories he told of his childhood and his youth.

Meet Dennis...five years old....sixty years ago !! It's the 'expression' on that face that first captured my attention.



One of the first stories he shared with me was something that had touched his heart at one time....it's a song, but I am sharing the lyrics that tell the story best.

A song by a chap name of Guy Clark, and the title of which is THE CAPE.

Please let me share it with you...

"Eight years old with a flour sack cape, tied all around his neck, he climbed up on the garage, he's figurin what the heck.
Screwed his courage up so tight that the whole thing come unwound. He got a runnin start and bless his heart, he headed for the ground.

He's one of those that knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath and ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE..

Now he's all grown up, with a flour sack cape, tied all around his dreams, and he's full of ---- and vinegar, he's busting at the seams.
So he licked his finger and checked the wind, it's gonna be do or die, he wasn't scared of nothin boys he was pretty sure he could fly.

Well he's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath, AND ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE..

Now he's old and grey with a flour sack Cape, tied all around his head. and he's still jumpin off the garage and will be till he's dead. All these years the people said he's actin like a kid.
He did not know he could not fly, SO HE DID....

He's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath, AND ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE.."

Cute song....and the fact that sometimes those around us don't see us as the Lord sees us...and it is He who gives us the courage and the ability to find the 'Wind'and let Him carry us .....where no one else could have seen us go... flying free on the Wings of Love.

So...this past July when my Friend and Beloved came to visit , he had a plan of where we should meet....so here are a few photos' of our first encounter, and the fun I have to look forward to experiencing in the years to come.



My first view as I drove across the parking lot .....suddenly I was laughing , and laughing wondering if anyone else was looking at this crazy man in a Cape and if anyone had decided to call the Police......nope....sigh of relief !! Now all I had to decide was if I would actually get out of my car and meet him.....yep....sure did.









It seems if a lady of such an age as myself can leap from an airplane at 10,000 feet then joining forces with a man with a Cape, means I actually discover my own Cape.

Thank You Jesus...such a good story with a very happy ending. Dad has also been immersed in our lives and will join us when we relocate to British Columbia after we are married.

Such a good story Lord. We are grateful beyond measure.

Acts 2:1

Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy Spirit came upon them suddenly - not predictably or expectedly or customarily but 'suddenly'.

Welcome to the world of Acts and the 'sudden' Spirit of God, sovereign and free, never subordinate to timing or technique. He creates His own agenda, determines his own calendar, and keeps His own hours.

Fire and wind now. House shaking later. Visiting the Samaritans after water baptism. Falling on the Gentiles before water baptism.

And here, roaring like a tornado through Jerusalem. The 'Sound' filled the whole house' and spilled into the streets. The whistling, rushing,blowing sound of a wind.

They began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

..........we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'Whatever could this mean?'(vv.4-12)

Envision such a phenomenon. Imagine a cosmopolitan center such as New York City. Fifth Avenue is packed with business people, laborers, and travellers from all over the world.

Early one morning as the mobs throb their way to work, the sound of wind shakes the boulevard. The roar is so stout and robust that people stop dead in their tracks as if expecting to see a train blaze down the avenue.

Silence falls on the city only to be interrupted by the voices of a group gathered in Central Park. One hundred and twenty people speak, each one standing beneath a different flame, each one proclaiming God's goodness in a different language. Witnesses hear their native tongues. Jose from Spain hears about God's mercy in Spanish, Mayo from Japan hears a message in Japanese.....They hear different languages but one message: the wonders of God.

Whatever could this mean ? (v.12) ...rushing wind and falling fire....

At least this much....God loves the nations.....He longs to proclaim His greatness in all 6909 languages that exist in the world today.

He loves all people groups and equips us to be His voice.

He commissions common Galileans, Nebraskans, Canadians, and Koreans to speak the languages of the peoples of the world.

He teaches us the vocabulary of the distant lands, the dialect of the discouraged neighbor, the vernacular of the lonely heart, and the idiom of the young student.

God outfits his followers to cross cultures and touch hearts. Pentecost makes this promise: if you are in Christ, God's Spirit will speak through you.

Let God unshell you. And when He does, 'make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given , and then sink yourself into that.(Gal.6:4 msg.)

Don't miss the opportunity to discover your language.

I am reading the above book. I joined booksneeze.com and you get to review a book which they send you for free and you just write a review of it on your blog. Pretty cool...

So, this one chapter has impacted me most so far,especially the invitation to 'discover your language'....which for me has clearly been a burden for the elderly.

I love that God speaks every language, and likes to awaken our ear to hear the many and varied ways He chooses to speak .

And I really appreciate Max Lucado and the language the Lord has chosen to speak His heart to me through. Very nice.

Power Of The Testimony

We Wait For You

Seven Years Ago

This was just so much fun....leap for life.... August 9, 2003 . I have come a very long way since this event...and it's all good. Thank you Jesus !

found me...rescued me...freed me!

Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste
....those who devoured you will be far away.Is.49/19

Is.62:2...you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of beauty in the hand of your God.

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name you Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah, for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.

As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

Kairos

Kairos - Where Time and Destiny Meet

During 'Kairos' seasons....The Spirit of God invades the very fabric of life itself.

Everything accelerates and changes as reality is re-directed by the unalterable will of God.

So....I say Yes Lord.

More Joy

The worship team did this song a couple of times when I was at IHOPrecently.
I was so happy to get to 'drink freely for myself' in the midst of the out pouring of the Holy Spirit Joy of the Lord and His great delight over us.

Hymn Night

Last night I was privileged to be part of an old fashioned Hymn Sing Along with some new and not so new friends.
This young fellow, Eric, did a wonderful job providing the music while the rest of the audience called out the number of the hymns from the hymnals we were using.
What a fun experience for me, being on the smaller side of the 'senior' scale.


This lovely Lady helped to organize the event.

Good friends and family

Fun and Fellowship


Good snacks

A couple of my all time favorites.

I don't think we would make the cut for the Gaither Homecoming Videos, but I do know we put a lovely smile on the Face of Jesus who moved gently among us as we worshiped Him. I will definitely attend again.

Nana is 102 !

The grandmother of my two youngest sons has passed another milestone .
Today Hilda is 102 years young.
Happy Birthday Nana, you are an amazing and blessed Lady.

He Loves Us

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Happy Birthday

Today my lovely granddaughter is ten years old. Where have the years flown ?
Happy Birthday Sweetheart. I love you very much !

Love Came Down

Welcome Home

My friend Susan was welcomed home today .
Jesus came and lifted her into His Lovely Embrace.
Thank you Lord for Your Great Loving Salvation.

The Lamb Slain

I know the Man who holds the keys to death. The Lamb Slain.

The scripture tells us that death has no sting. I believe this. But...there is a definite sorrow in being the one left behind when someone you love is in the valley of the shadow.

Recent weeks have brought me once again to this place. I have been an observer to two dear people who are in the process of dying. Leaving this planet and flying to Eternity. It is not pleasant for my friend Susan or my brother Michael. Standing alongside feeling so helpless to lift their suffering leaves me without words.

This evening I went to the hospital to visit as I have been doing for the last two weeks. My observations as I walked the halls consisted of some family members of another patient dressing in 'sterile gowns' before entering a room.
An elderly gentleman with a breathing tube in his trachea gasping for the gift of a breath.
My neighbor Susan , appearing small and shrunken under a soft blanket, finally resting from her pain.
Upon entering my brothers room where there were three other elderly men, sleeping, they all appeared already dead.

I turned and walked away down the hallway looking to Jesus. So much suffering. The hospital is a place of sickness, disease, dying and sad lonely humans . I won't dwell on the fact that every Thursday babies are killed for someone else's convenience one floor below.

The nurses are facing their own crisis of job loss due to the 'shaking of everything that can be shaken.' Still most of these ladies do an admirable job of ministering to people like Susan and my brother.

As I stood thinking and praying, I had to remember that Jesus has already paid for the healing and salvation of every soul in that place. Perhaps in the unseen realm there are many angels standing by to escort our dear ones the rest of the way.

For my brother and my friend, there will be great joy in heaven when they fly free of their sorrow and suffering. For me...I think I must look kind of stunned with a feeling of grief and frustration , waiting, waiting, waiting.

The Lamb slain....helping me carry the burden and helping me see with a heart of compassion as I walk this path with Him and those He has given me in the journey, to love and embrace in this valley that is ONLY A SHADOW.

Delirious?

I See Jesus

I see Jesus in you in all His distressing disguises.

To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life !
He who believes in Me, though he die, yet he shall live.

And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
Do you believe this?

She said to Him, Yes, Lord.

Easter Album

Always fun when visiting the city, is the Byward Market, full of an assortment of color, people and goodies, for those of us young at heart as well as those actually young.



I just couldn't resist taking a picture of this young mans hair style since I am looking for a new 'look' myself. He didn't seem to notice.



Neither did this artist



Finally bought myself some Crocs. Like them very much.


Then there is a wonderland kind of place called Sugar Mountain.My choice, chocolate covered jubies...not exactly low cal,but sometimes one must feast!




Aila is always ready for an adventure, and Anneka is almost as tall as Gramma. How did that happen ?


Beautiful Flowers



Eyes speak volumes


Where has the time gone?

Just topping of the day, we bumped into the Easter Bunny Person at the supermarket, well, ok he was the Nestle Rabbit,(note the backward N) but for free candy who will argue?

Reason to Smile

With Easter coming soon, for some reason I decided to go to my personal movie archive and check out a Jesus movie from years ago. I think I needed to be reminded that Jesus is happy and who better portrayed this concept in the movie "Matthew'' than Bruce Marchiano.

So I settled in to be reminded .......

The point I want to make is that each time Jesus touched anyone, healed anyone, even as he was teaching his followers, he smiled. The scriptures came alive for me once again as the words were spoken on the screen.

Then he laughed !

He laughed with joy when he healed the blind man, the paralytic, when he was blessing the bread and fish, when he cast out the demons. Love joyfully displayed !



It was then I understood the laughter that I am beholding in the Student Awakening at IHOP. What joy Jesus experiences when one of his own finds freedom from the enemy.

For me , something wonderful slipped into my heart with each embrace I witnessed and tearfully experienced myself. And so I follow still , more fervently than ever.

For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross....for me.
So you can call me Joy !


Psalm 2/4, Psalm 37/13, Prov.8/31 , Is.62/5

Signs of Spring

Today , though it was not very warm, I decided to take Zoe and head out to one of my favorite places . The buds on the trees are in evidence most places and the new green is beginning to be seen in the evergreen trees.

I really enjoy walking along the canal. The Lift Locks appear to be in need of a good cleaning. Once the snow is gone, all the mess that was hidden is everywhere, even in the water.

Many , many years ago, when I was a young lady of seventeen the fall season was warm so we were in shorts. The canal had been drained, and appeared dry and solid.

So.....for some unknown reason I decided to take a 'short cut' to the other side. I took a running start down the little embankment and ran full on out onto the bottom of the canal.

Nope...not dry...not solid....

The shear momentum of my speed sent me about half way across when I came to a stinking sinking stop !

Mired in muck and stinking like sewage mud almost up to my  knees. White knee socks, and white tennis shoes....unimaginable !! Lots of crying and screaming happening as reality really does bite sometimes.

Somehow I managed to escape the grip of the underworld trying to suck me down. What a memory !

Side view of the Locks facing west.

This door drew my attention for some reason, so I went closer to take a better picture. The leaves are piled against the door . My little puppy Zoe, being so small, suddenly showed blood on her little butt fur. She had cut herself on a broken beer bottle hidden under the leaves.
So our adventure was cut short today. From now on I will be alert to ensure her safety . I will not go on a tangent on the kind of person who would throw a glass bottle away in such a manner...not right now anyway.

Little black squirrel in the tree enjoying a snack.

My favorite birds of the season were everywhere, squabbling over who gets the best worm. 

The end of the day, a soft almost full moon rises in the east over our little home town .

Neighbor Update

Last evening my sick neighbor came to my door to ask for ' refuge' and 'prayer'.

Earlier I had dropped into her place for a brief visit, to find an almost toxic atmosphere between mother and daughter . Neither are aware I don't think exactly why they are reacting the way they are to each other . It's a very difficult place for both to endure. 

I must confess I was shocked at her deterioration and hair loss in the last week.  This is happening very quickly.

So , my friend knocked on my door . 

Today she was facing the consultation with the doctor who will be in charge of her chemotherapy, should she decide to proceed that way.

I can't imagine being in her situation.

Kind of a no win situation. Chemo usually makes a person pretty ill, especially in this case where, the cancer is in many places. 

I listened for awhile, and then she asked me please pray that she would know the right decision to make. The prayer time was comforting to her, and to me since the Lord is so wonderful to make His Presence known, and His touch tangible.

He is so gentle with the broken and frightened . He knows the path ahead.
My prayer for my friend is for courage , strength  and  peace, but most of all a meeting with her Savior.  

What an amazing and terrifying journey.

Reflections

 

Today I was looking through some old pictures . I have decided to create a blog to remember my dad, and experienced one of those 'moments of interruption'. 

This picture was taken way back around 1960 I think. I am the one in the black school uniform sitting at the end of the little table. It must have been some kind of special occasion since the little girl with the dark hair sitting next to my smiling sister JoAnne is not one of our family. Maybe it was baby Dar's birthday ? The boy child is my brother Michael.

Anyway, the point is I was looking at what was on the table. Empty milk glasses,(anyone remember a product called 'Milko', powdered skim milk ?) Heinz Ketchup or maybe Aylmer , and I think I even recognized the hamburger patties , mashed potatoes and likely peas.

All of this made me think of my mother. She cooked the meals most every day, though my dad could whip up some very smooth mashed potatoes, by hand not mix master.

Suddenly I am getting choked up thinking about this woman who served us kids most of the time with little thanks. So, back to my photos and more staring at the lady who held our family together. 

 

Just remembering how young she looks here. I am way older now than she was when this was taken. Cigarette ever in her fingers,someones laundry hanging on the neighbors line. Actually that is the childhood home of the Redmond boys who went on to play NHL hockey.  Even the yard looks so much smaller now.

Suddenly sitting here at my desk wishing I could talk to her again and tell her so much. Like how grateful I am for all she sacrificed for me.

I wish I had been more loving, I wish I had understood all the things I now 'really understand' as I have lived and experienced my own life with all the bumps and terrible surprises in the journey.

I remember feeling so rejected a lot of the time, yet this lady worked her butt off to make ends meet with five children in a small home. The teen aged years when it seems all our parents want to do is keep us from having so much fun? The truth is looking back I had good teen years. Funny how sometimes only the negative stuff sticks to the surface of some totally selfish memories. 

But I digress...

I remember her trying to teach me to dance,(broom and all) since she was a great dancer in Army Shows, and then the day, I taught her how to do the 'Twist' with Chubby Checker wailing on the living room stereo.

Isn't it sad that it seems only in reflection we sometimes see and understand someone else's journey through life? It is on reflection and understanding from far off that appreciation for  my mom has grown in my heart. To see her a bit how God created her to be is actually what I am seeing today.

I guess all that to say, Lord, I miss my mom today, tell her for me that I love her and all these years later, I really am grateful for everything she put up with from me and the rest of us.

So much love floods my heart even now. I look forward to the day I will see her again and tell her for myself how precious her memory and her life has become to me.  I look forward to getting to know her for real some day and tell her , 'you did really great'  !! I love you always, your Nancy.